Mechanism for carrying materials.



W. T. JAMES. MECHANISM FOR CARRYING MATERIALS. A APPLICATION FILED APR. '6, 1908.

4 1 022,787 Patented Aim 9; 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

By? W ATTORNE vp COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0 WASHINGTON. u. c.

W. T. JAMES. I MECHANISM FOR. CARRYING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1908.

Patented Apr. 9,1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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ATTORNEY;

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII CUUWASHINGTON D. c.

W. T. JAMES.

MEGHANISM FOR CARRYING MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1908. I

Patented Apr. 9,1912.

V WITNESSES: INVEN1DR.

W. T. JAMES.

MECHANISM 011 CARRYING MATERIALS.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1908. 1,022 787 Patented Aim 9, 1912.

INVENTOR.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 mnulw A TTO NEYS v To all whom it may concern:

WILLIAM '1. JAMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR CARRYING MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed April 6, 1908. Serial No. 425,547.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. JAMES, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Mechanisms for Carrying Materials, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its principal objects, the provision of a device of the character specified, adapted to be moved with facility from one place to another, as for example, in a railroad yard or storage warehouse so as to bring it opposite diflerent cars on adjacent tracks, and to receive ties, lumber, barrels, boxes, packages, or other like articles or units from such cars, and carry, deliver, stack or pile the same where desired; the-operation being almost entirely accomplished without the intervention of hand manipulation and at a minimum of cost, and with a requirement for a minimum amount of room or yardage.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of the character described which will handle the articles in question with the. greatest accuracy and facility, whereby also they are not so much exposed to the action of the elements, as in the ordinary practice.

The above, as well as such other'objects as may hereinafter appear, I attain by means of a construction which I have illustrated in a form adapted to piling ties in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the mechanism embodying my improvement; Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a partial plan sectional view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view showing certain of the details of the mechanism on a larger scale; Fig. 5 is another detailed view indicating the arrangement of the means employed for guiding and sustaining the ties while they are resting upon'the movable carrier; Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing certain modifications of the arrangement of the means for guiding and sustaining the ties illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicatedby the arrow, and Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 7.

Referring now more particularly to Figs.

put out of service while the truck is 1 and 2 it will be seen that in carrying out my invention I provide first a movable framework or truck 1 mounted upon wheels 2 adapted preferably to run upon a track 3 and provided with means for driving the movable framework, comprising primarily ;an electric motor 4 which by means of a suitable belt 5 drives a counter-shaft 6 from which by another belt 7 another countershaft 8 is driven, the latter in turn forming .a driving means for the chain or belt driving device 9, as clearly indicated in Fig- I 1. As a convenient means for throwing the before described motor driving mechanism into and out of'operation, I provide a suitable clutch device 10 that may be actuated from a convenient hand lever 11 arranged where it may be readily grasped.

by the operator when it is desired to disconnect such driving mechanism or to throw it into operation to move the apparatus from one place to another in the yard. The movable truck or frame 1 is constructed with uprights 15, and has sprocket wheels 16 around which runs the conveyer chain 17 carrying pivoted bracket supports 18,

the whole being driven by means of the belt 19 and train of gears shown in Fig. 1, connected with the sprocket wheel 20. The belt 19 is preferably arranged as indicated in Fig. 2, with tight and lose pulleys sothat its mechanism can be disconnected and thus being moved from one place to another. As a means for supplying power to the driving motor 4, I prefer to use a trolley wire 21 with a troller 22 which may be ofany preferred form adapted to the purpose, and I provide mechanism indicatedfat 23, in the shape of some suitable controller, for regulating the electric current, and also a double throw switch as at .24 for controlling and reversing. the direction of motion of the conveyer mechanism or of the truck, when necessary.

Referring now moreparticularly to Figs. 2 and 3 itwill be observed that I have indicated my improved device as standing'upon a track 25 at the right of the figure, adjacent another track 26' at the left upon which there is a car 27 out of which ties or other like material are to be taken for piling. Arranged transversely of the frame as shown in Fig. 2 I provide a carrier 28 having a pluralityof rollers 29 along which the ties are pushed into position until the ends of the same bear against the stop 30, said rollers being disposed as shown in Fig. 3, so that the carrier brackets 18 can pass up between them and lift the ties, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2 where the tie a is shown in dotted lines, and carry such ties upward into position to be slid off the carrier brackets 18, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, onto another series of rollers 31 that may lead in any desired direction. The carrier brackets 18 are provided with counterbalance weights 32 adapted to hold them in proper position, and guide rollers 33 arranged to bear against the flange 34 on an upright rolled metal section 35 which as shown is an angle or L, and said rolled metal piece 35 is curved at the upper end as indicated at 36 so as to permit the inclination of the carrier bracket 18 shown in Fig. 4 at the top of its travel, the weight of tie tending to push it downward, causing the tie to slide off onto the rollers 31 as soon as the roller 33 strikes the curved part 36 of the upright rolled member 35. The carrier pivots about the cross rod 60 (Figs. 1 and 4), which cross rod is carried by the endless chains 17.

The flange 34 of the upright guide 35 may be cut away at intervals and provided with hinged portions 41, movable about a pintle 44, (see Figs. 1 and 6) when it is desired to permit the inclination of the bracket 18 and the discharge of the tie car ried thereby, as may be convenient in piling materials at various heights below the curved point indicated at 36. The said hinged port-ions 41 of the flange 34 are preferably provided with longitudinal stiffening ribs 51 adapted to abut against corresponding ribs 52 on the lower hinge member, and thereby limit the movement of such portions. In order to maintain the hinged portions 41 flush wit-h the flange 34, I provide the locking device consisting of the three straps 54, 55, and 56, 54 and 55 being carried by the upright 35 and 56 by the hinged portion 41 of the flange, the said three straps being adapted to receive a locking key 7.

As a special means for securing an accurate placement of the tie a upon the carrier brackets 18 in the upward travel of the latter, I provide a directing flange or guard 37 as indicated in Fig. 4, and in order to permit the ties of varying length to pass upward through the framework of the truck 1, I arrange the framing of the same as shown in Fig. 1, so that the tie will extend through an opening or gap in said framework, which comes all the way up to a point above the position of the rollers 31 that receive the tie as it is cast off from the carrier brackets.

It will be observed from the above that the means for receiving the tie is on a relatively low plane so the ties can be readily supplied to the carrier, while the delivery rolls 31 are relatively higher, preferably adjustable vertically and inclined so as to deliver the ties freely to any point to which such series of rolls may be directed. To secure such vertical adjustment one end of the series of rolls 31 is slidably mounted in a pair of vertical guideways 45 (one not shown) and suspended therein by a pair of cables 46 (one not shown) passing over sheaves 48, 49 the opposite ends of which cables are attached to a pair of drums 47 (one not shown). Motion is imparted to said drums 47 by means of the geared crank 50.

To prevent the tie from striking the upright 35, the carrier 18 may be provided with a stop 58, and to facilitate the discharge of the tie from the carrier 18, such carrier may be provided with a series of rollers 53 as indicated in Figs. 6 and 8.

As a means for setting the carrier brackets in proper position to pick up the ties, I provide the inclines 39 mounted as shown in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 6, 7 8, and 9 I have illustrated also certain modifications of the tie carrier brackets 18 and the means for discharging the tie therefrom. In this form of construction the carrier brackets 18 are provided with counterbalance rollers 43 adapted to hold them in proper position and to bear against the flange 34 on the upright rolled metal section 35 which as shown here is a channel. In order to insure further the righting of the carrier 18, the opposing flange 42 is cut away and formed into a curved guide as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. By this arrangement, after the tie is discharged, the carrier shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 at 18 is caused to assume the position shown in Fig. 7 at 18, when the roller 43 travels along the inner surface of the curved guide portion 42, and the carrier thereby righted.

In operating my invention the operator stands upon a suitable platform 40 in convenient reach of the controller and reversing switch, clutch handle, hoisting mechanism, etc., and by regulating the action of the several parts, as already described, is enabled to have complete charge of the piling operation.

While I have shown my invention as adapted to the transportation and piling of ties in a tie yard, it is obvious that it is adaptable by mere extension and amplifications in embodiment to the carrying of long sticks of lumber, poles, barrels, boxes, and other bulky packages, articles and units, and such embodiments constitute no departure from the spirit of my invention and are intended to be within the scope of and covered by my claims. A

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. In apparatus of the character dewhereby the lateral conveying means may be adjusted vertically, guide means for normally maintaining the carrying means in position to support an article being conveyed, and controlling means whereby the carrying means may be permitted to tilt to discharge articles at a plurality of different levels, corresponding to the position of the lateral conveying means.

3. In apparatus of the character described, vertically movable carrying means, a supporting rail extending along the path of travel of the carrying means, lateral conveying means mounted for adjustment up and down the rail, and means whereby the carrying means may be made to tilt and to automatically discharge at diflerent levels corresponding to the position of the lateral conveying means. I

4. In apparatus of the character described, vertically movable carrying means, a supporting guide rail extending along the path of travel of the carrying means, lateral conveying means mounted for adjustment up and down the guide rail, adjustable suspending means for the lateral conveying means, and means whereby the carrying means may be made to automatically discharge at differentlevels corresponding to the position of the lateral conveying means.

5. In apparatus of the character de scribed, an upright guide, a carrier thereon comprising a body portion and a laterally extending carrier arm intermediate the ends of such body portion, a member located on the body portion above the arm, contacting. with the guide and preventing the tilting of the carrier when loaded, means engaging the carrier below such member for elevating the carrier, means on the upright guide for permitting the said member to move forward to tilt the carrier arm, and a counterweight on the carrier located on the same side of said guide as said member for normally maintaining the arm in position to support an article.

6. In apparatus of the character described, an upright guide, a carrier thereon comprising a body portion and'a laterally extending carrier arm intermediate the ends of such body portion, a member located on the body portion above the arm, contacting with the guide and preventing the tilting of the carrier when loaded, means engaging the carrier below such member for elevating the carrier, a forward curve in the upright guide for permitting the said member tomove forward to tilt the carrier arm, and a counterweight on the carrier located on the same side of said guide as said memberfor normally maintaining the arm in position to support an article.

g 7 In apparatus of the character described, an upright guide rail provided on .its forward portion with a flange, a carrier mounted on the rail and comprising a body portion and a laterally extending carrier arm intermediate the ends of such body portion, a member located on the body portion above the arm for engaging the rear side of the said flange and preventing the tilting of the carrier when loaded, means engaging the carrier below such member for elevating it, and a forwardly movable releasable hinged section in the said flange whereby the said member may be permitted to move forward at this point to tilt the carrier.

8. In apparatus of the character described, an upright guide rail provided on its forward portion with a flange, a carrier mounted on the rail and comprising a body portion and a laterally extending carrier arm lntermediate the ends of such body portion, a member located on the body portion above the arm for engaging the rear side of the said flange and preventing the tilting of the carrier when loaded, means engaging the carrier below such member for elevating it, and a plurality of forwardly movable releasable hinged sections in the said flange whereby the said member may be permitted to move forward to tilt the car rier and discharge it at the desired level.

9. In apparatus of the character described, an upright guide rail provided on its forward portion with a flange, a carrier mounted on therail and comprising a body portion and a laterally extending carrier arm intermediate the ends of such body portion, a member located on the body port-ion above the arm for engaging the rear side of the said flange and preventing the tilting of the carrier when loaded, means engaging the carrier below such member for elevating it, and a forwardly movable section in the said flange whereby the said member may'be permitted to move forward to tilt the carrier and discharge it when the said section is removed.

10. In apparatus of the character described, an upright guide'rail provided on its forward portion with a flange, a carrier mounted on the rail and comprising a body portion and a laterally extending carrier arm intermediate the ends of such body portion, a member located on the body portion above the arm for engaging the rear side of the said flange and preventing the tilting of the carrier when loaded, means engaging the carrier below such member for elevating it, a forwardly movable section in the said flange whereby the said member may be permitted to move forward to tilt the carrier and discharge it when the said section is re moved, and means for righting the carrier after the load is discharged.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM T. JAMES.

Witnesses PAUL CARPENTER, G. W. CUNNINGHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

